How the Internet has changed chess: Part 3; My BIG announcement!

If you have not yet read part one and part two of this series, please do so in order to best understand what follows.

I have discussed standard time control games already, how do these work in the real world? After all, if you wish to get a real rating, and perhaps a title, you are going to have to go out and compete in person at a real chess tournament. Tournaments are usually held at local chess clubs one night a week on a given weeknight or on weekends with several rounds. Essentially one could play chess seven days a week if they found a club within driving distance Monday through Friday followed by entering a weekend event. I have already pointed out fuel prices and traffic put a damper on this. I attend a local club on Monday night and we play a time control of 40 moves in 90 minutes and then the rest of your moves (Sudden Death) in 30 minutes, with a delay of 5 seconds every move. You each receive up to two hours thinking time to play your game. This means all games commence at 7 PM and finish by 11 PM and the club closes. Weekenders often have an evening round Friday and two rounds each on Saturday and Sunday. They often use a time control of 40 moves in two hours, then “Sudden Death” in one hour, with a delay of 5 seconds. This assures that no round lasts longer than six hours and then the next round will begin. These time controls, or similar ones, are common wherever you play tournament chess. A good game of chess should last about four hours, and you should receive at least an average of 2 minutes per move thinking time.. Sadly, the only online standard events that run a comparable time to real events is the 90 30 group that plays on ICC. 90 30 is the time control used in FTDE’s chess Olympics. 90 30 roughly translates to 110 minutes per side to play the game as the e-time is computed by adding the minutes plus 2/3 of the increment.

Sometimes if you want something done bad enough you must do it yourself. What follows I first proposed approximately 2 years ago to the STC Bunch (Slow Time Control) which handles standard tournaments on ICC and FICS. It was warmly received by the players but the administrators did nothing, not even a comment. I have also suggested it here at chess.com to several groups and no one has implemented it. It handles the biggest objection players have when they enter standard tournaments online. They must enter negotiations with their opponent for a playing time. Most often neither side plays at their ideal time. Frequently the game never gets played as one player decides not to show up.

I have a solution to the player’s common objections! I'm starting a group, linked below, that will start five rounds of standard chess play every day, seven days a week. I chose time zones near large populations, and spread them out across the globe. I chose West and East Coast United States, England, India, and eastern Australia. Start times Monday through Friday will be 7 PM and play a time control of 75 30, for e-time of 95 minutes. Saturday and Sunday events will begin at 12 o'clock noon with a time control of 90 30. No longer will one have to enter negotiations for playing time with their opponent. Everyone must enter every week and for those who should be left without an opponent for some unforeseen reason will be paired with a player from among the late entries. The playing rules thread in the forums of this group explains in simple detail the process of entering and playing. With 35 different starting times everyone should be able to get a game in every week. Now, you get to pick the time of the week you want to play and we will find you a game. You don't have to play every week or any specific days, you just play when you would like a game and we will get it for you. Planning your weekly life schedule around chess just got a lot easier.

Here’s the link to join this revolutionary new standard time control group!

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